A report from a joint study by the Texas State Department of Health, Texas Cancer Registry and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas by this month’s end 1120 Smith County residents will have been diagnosed with cancer.  Of these, 431 will die.
This is a tragically high figure and so, during its 25th anniversary, Tyler’s Texas Oncology is offering a special gift for the holiday season.  Screenings raise awareness of the threat of cancer, and there is no way to overemphasize the value of early detection.
The facility is giving during the season of giving by offering discounted and free screenings. Texas Oncology, Tyler is collaborating with Trinity/Mother Frances and the Ross Breast Center in Tyler in giving patients insurance for the gift of life through discounted mammography and prostate screenings to their friends and assorted loved ones. Dr. Mark Saunders, M.D. proclaims Texas Oncology, Tyler’s commitment to combating the scourge of cancer in East Texas.
“We are focused on continuing to deliver leading-edge, community-based cancer care with advanced technology, caring and experienced physicians and promising clinical trials,” he said.
Early detection is a traditionally vital means of survival.  Texas Oncology, Tyler offers these life-saving tips:

•  Keep an eye on your flesh, and at least once per month check for changes in freckles, moles and other flesh markings.

• Women should carry out monthly breast exams and check for suspicious lumps.  Females should also submit to mammograms at least once every one to three years depending on their doctor’s recommendation.

• Men should make monthly checks on both testicles in case of telltale hard lumps, changes in size or swelling.

• Everyone should make note of family history and cancer risks because certain strains of cancer are associated with specific genetic profiles.

For more information please visit www.TexasOncology.com.

This Thanksgiving, Texas Oncology–Longview and Texas Oncology–Tyler are commemorating Texas Oncology’s 25th anniversary by thanking their patients for trusting them with the most precious gift of all – their health. In doing so, Texas Oncology is rolling out a series of activities during the holiday season to give back to its patients and those that have helped them through their difficult journey, and to raise awareness about the importance of cancer screening and early detection in the fight against cancer.
“Thanksgiving is a time to count and celebrate blessings. It has been a privilege to care for our patients and others in the fight against cancer,” said Bill Taylor, M.D., Texas Oncology–Longview.
“We want to say thank you to them and give back in a way that helps educate and inform others in the East Texas community about the importance of cancer screenings.”

Texas Oncology’s activities include:

Discounted and Free Cancer Screenings

Texas Oncology is encouraging their patients to thank those who supported them throughout treatment by giving them each a card good for a discounted screening mammogram or a free prostate screening in an effort to promote early detection, when treatment is most effective. In partnership with Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview and Trinity Mother Frances – The Ross Breast Center in Tyler, Texas Oncology is able to offer their patients the opportunity to gift a discounted screening mammogram to a family member or friend of their choosing or a free prostate screening to be done at the local Texas Oncology location and respective hospital.

Providing Holiday Meals

Texas Oncology will provide Thanksgiving meals to the families of some of its patients who are hospitalized around the Thanksgiving holiday to help them celebrate together.
Educating the Community on Cancer Risks, Symptoms, and Screenings

Texas Oncology wants to inform the East Texas community about cancer risks and the signs to look for, as well as remind them of the importance of scheduling regular cancer screenings as part of a healthy lifestyle. Prevention and early detection start with screenings, which save lives.

During the holidays, Texas Oncology hopes to raise awareness by providing information and tips about cancer-related risks, symptoms, and regular screenings. To help community members start practicing proactive measures to improve their health, Texas Oncology offers an easy-to-follow checklist that every adult at any age can do:

• Keep an eye on your skin and check for changes in freckles, moles, and other skin markings once a month.

• Women should check their breasts for lumps every month and have a clinical breast exam every one to three years depending on age.

• Men should check both testicles for hard lumps or changes in size or shape every month.

• Individuals should be aware of their cancer risk, which may be higher for those with a personal or family history of cancer, or people who have certain genetic profiles that have been associated with specific cancer types. Screening may need to begin at an earlier age for those with these risk factors.

• Learn more about prevention and early detection at www.TexasOncology.com/Thanksgiving.

“As we recognize our silver anniversary, we pledge our continued commitment to the East Texas community we call home,” said Mark Saunders, M.D., Texas Oncology–Tyler. “We’re focused on continuing to deliver leading-edge, community-based cancer care with advanced technology, caring and experienced physicians, and promising clinical trials. Texas Oncology has been helping Texans fight cancer for 25 years!”

Dr. Bill Taylor, radiation oncologist at Texas Oncology– Longview Cancer Center and Debbie Henderson, business owner and volunteer at the Clinic

By Larry Frase, M.D. and Donald Richards, M.D., Ph.D.

For years, anti-smoking campaigns have touted the same message – “Smoking Causes Lung Cancer.” Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find any American unaware of the strong link between the two. However, during Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, it’s important to highlight some lesser-known facts about lung cancer and smoking that can still have a big impact on your health.

Smoking Causes Lung Cancer…
But Not All Lung Cancer Is Caused by Smoking
According to the American Cancer Society, while cigarette smoking is by far the most important risk factor for developing lung cancer, smoking accounts for 87 percent of lung cancer deaths. This means that there are thousands of people diagnosed with lung cancer each year who have never smoked.
Other lesser-known risk factors for lung cancer include exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as ongoing exposure to asbestos, certain metals like arsenic, and air pollution.
Genetics can also make you more susceptible to developing lung cancer, especially those who develop the disease at a younger age. People who are more genetically prone to the disease should be extra cautious and reduce exposure to carcinogens as much as possible.

Screening exams are not
available for lung cancer

Mammograms help detect breast cancer…but for lung cancer there isn’t a specific screening test. However, recent studies suggest that CT scans can be a valuable screening tool that helps detect lung cancer at early, more treatable stages. This research could lead to an approved screening test in the near future.

It’s important to watch for early signs and symptoms of lung cancer, and make an appointment to see your doctor if you experience any of the following:
• Persistent cough or hoarseness of voice
• Deep chest pain, shoulder or upper-
back pain
• Shortness of breath or wheezing
• Reddened, rust-colored or bloody phlegm
• Recurrent respiratory infections, like
pneumonia or bronchitis
• Weight loss or lack of appetite
• Abnormal breast growth in men

Many of these symptoms could indicate a number of other conditions, but they can also be signs of lung cancer. It’s important to trust your gut – if you are not feeling right, don’t hesitate to consult your physician.

Tobacco use causes more than lung cancer

In the United States, the leading cause of preventable illness and death is tobacco use, according to the National Cancer Institute. In addition to lung cancer, smoking can cause numerous other types of cancer including bladder, cervical, esophageal, kidney, lip, larynx, mouth, acute myeloid leukemia, nasal cavity, pancreatic, sinuses, stomach, and throat cancer. Smoking also contributes to heart disease, emphysema, bronchitis, and stomach ulcers.

Many states ban smoking
to protect residents’ health

The most important thing you can do to prevent lung cancer is stop smoking, or distance yourself from those who do. A Center for Disease Control report released this year said the number of states with comprehensive indoor smoking bans went from zero in 2000 to 26 in 2010, and in 10 more years, the entire nation could be covered by smoking bans in workplaces, bars, and restaurants.

Texas does not currently have a comprehensive smoking ban in place. The Texas Legislature considered a statewide ban on smoking in public places this year, but the measure wasn’t passed. Only three southern states – Florida, Louisiana, and North Carolina – have laws banning smoking in any two of the three venues (workplaces, restaurants, and bars) and no southern state has a smoke-free law covering all three. If Texas were to pass a comprehensive statewide smoke-free law, the measure would be expected to save an estimated $31 million in state Medicaid costs over two years.
In the absence of a smoking ban, avoid indoor areas like sports bars and restaurants that have a high-concentration of smokers. This includes cigars and pipe smoke, which also increase the risk of lung cancer.

For more information on the links between lung cancer and smoking, please visit www.TexasOncology.com.

Larry Frase, M.D., is a Medical Oncologist at Texas Oncology–Longview, 1300 North Fourth Street in Longview, Texas. Donald Richards, M.D., Ph.D., is a medical oncologist at Texas Oncology–Tyler, 910 East Houston Street, Suite 100 in Tyler, Texas.

To raise awareness of women’s cancer, Tyler Firefighters urge area public safety officers, businesses, schools and citizens to wear pink on Monday, Oct. 3 to show that “Tyler cares enough to wear pink”.
The entire community is invited to come to the Downtown Square in their pink shirts for the third annual TURN TYLER PINK event from 5-8 p.m.
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 20, Turn Tyler Pink shirts can be purchased at:
Gallery Main Street
110 W. Erwin
and
Holiday Inn South Broadway
5701 S. Broadway.
Proceeds from the sale of Turn Tyler Pink shirts benefit local cancer organizations.  In 2010, the Tyler Firefighters CARE Fund donated more than $ 20,800 to organizations that support the fight against cancer.
The Tyler Firefighters’ sale of the pink shirts began in 2008 when the wife of a fellow firefighter was struck with cancer.  To raise funds to help the family, the department raised $12,000 by selling pink shirts.  In 2009, the effort grew significantly with an event held on the Downtown Square that attracted more than 500 people who wore pink in support of women who are fighting cancer.

The ETMC Breast Care Center is holding a free, one-day retreat for breast cancer survivors on Friday, Oct. 7, featuring breast cancer survivor Anne Barab as guest speaker.
The ETMC Pink Ribbon Getaway will be held at the ETMC Pavilion, 801 Clinic Drive, with registration beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the conference concluding at 2 p.m.
The conference is supported by The Robert M. Rogers Foundation, JCPenney, Tyler Professional Fire Fighters Association, Mineola Fire Department and the ETMC Foundation.
The event will feature topics such as a physician panel discussion, nutrition tips, lymphedema management and door prizes. JCPenney will provide a makeup demonstration for cancer survivors.
The keynote luncheon speaker, Anne Barab of Dallas, learned she had cancer six years ago during the week of her daughter’s wedding. In her presentation, “The Big C and Me,” she talks about laughing and learning how to cope when cancer or another tragedy strikes.
Attendance for the retreat is limited.  Please contact Sandy Campbell for a registration form or with questions at 903-535-6302 or email slcampbell@etmc.org

The East Texas Medical Center (ETMC) Cancer Institute has earned a three-year accreditation and a commendation on its cancer program from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. This was based on on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor in May.
The commission is a consortium of professional medical associations striving for higher survival rates and improved quality of life for cancer patients and survivors.  It pursues these aims through education for medical providers and patients, setting high standards, prevention, research and the monitoring of cancer treatment.  The ETMC Institute, in 1990, became the first facility in East Texas to earn this accreditation, which places it among the elite of the nation’s cancer treatment providers.  Institute Vice-President Todd Sigmon was delighted but unsurprised at the honor.
“We are very pleased to have this approval again because it’s only given to facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care,” he said.

ETMC’s Cancer Care Institute provides its patients with the following services:
1. Comprehensive care including a range of state-of-the-art treatments and equipment.
2. A multispecialty, plus team approach to coordinating the best treatment options.
3. Education on ongoing clinical trials and treatment options.
4. Access to cancer-related information, education and support.
5. A registry for collecting information on types and stages of cancers, treatment results, and for offering lifelong patient follow-up.
6. Continual care monitoring and options for improvement.
7. Quality care close to home.

The American Cancer Society predicts there will be more than 1.5 million new cases of cancer diagnosed during 2011.

By Donald Kaul

Republicans have hatched a health care plan that will bring down costs dramatically. It’s called “Die Young.” It mainly targets the poor.
Democrats have a plan, too. It’s called “Appoint a Commission of Experts; They’ll Know What to Do.” Though less effective than the GOP model at lowering costs, it has the great advantage of sparing politicians difficult votes.
Both are very disappointing.
Never fear. I too have a plan. It’s modest, universal, and foolproof. If the nation were to embrace it, we’d not only cut health care costs in half, our budget deficit would shrink to the equivalent of spare change.
This is my plan: Stay healthy.
That’s it. The whole plan. Just imagine if people started to take long walks instead of downing handfuls of pills each day. Suppose they ate real food instead of the toxic waste dished up by fast food restaurants and marketed by processed food conglomerates. Think what would happen if we began teaching our children that foods other than sugar taste pretty good, once you get used to them.
What if we started spending as much money and effort on being well as we do now on getting sick?
Pretty soon you’d have cardiologists wandering the streets with portable blood-pressure machines, offering to give you a reading for a quarter.
You’d have treatment centers full of dialysis machines with nobody to dialysize.
You’d have giant cancer clinics with their terrifying machines looking as abandoned as a Detroit auto plant.
All that and more is within our grasp. It wouldn’t involve government at any level or the socialization of medicine. Neither would it interfere with the sacred doctor-patient relationship nor pay tribute to an insurance company.
It’s voluntary, constitutional, and smart. You’re probably skeptical. I don’t blame you. I was too, until I read a book called The China Study. It’s written by T. Colin Campbell, a giant in the field of nutritional research, and his son Thomas Campbell II.
The book lays out the results of a lifetime of research on diet as it relates to disease, especially cancer. At the center of The China Study is a joint Chinese-Western effort that is the largest and most comprehensive such study ever attempted.
The results were nothing short of startling.
They found that animal fats and protein — milk included — tend to make you sick. Vegetables make you well.
Laboratory studies confirmed that even if massive amounts of carcinogens were fed to rats and mice, they didn’t produce much cancer — until animal protein was added to the diet.
Think on that. Our air, water, and food supplies are being corrupted with cancer-causing materials every day. Yet the study indicates that unless you combine those materials with protein from meat and dairy products, you probably won’t get cancer.
Dr. Campbell also describes studies indicating that a plant-based diet has a preventative effect on diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and autoimmune diseases like MS and rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases, a rigid plant-based diet was found to roll back those diseases.
The answer to health, then, seems to lie in becoming a vegan — someone who eats only food derived from plants.
I’ve just lost you, haven’t I? A plant-only diet sounds like the latest fad taken up by Hollywood celebrities.
It isn’t. There’s strong scientific evidence that it provides a way to a long and healthy life that doesn’t end prematurely in a hospital bed with a dozen tubes attached to your wasted body.
Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not advising you become a vegan. It’s a hard life, particularly if you’re not an inventive cook. A vegetarian meal can sometimes taste good, but eating out is often a challenge.
But remember this. There are a thousand ways to die and every one of them has a lobbyist working for it in Washington.
You are the only lobbyist working for No. 1.
Read The China Study. It could change your life.
OtherWords columnist Donald Kaul lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan. www.otherwords.org

By Bob Moos, Special to ETR

More than 2 million American men count themselves as prostate cancer survivors. Many have early detection and treatment to thank for their lives today.
Most men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer don’t like to talk about it. I’ve learned that from friends and family who have been through it. From what I’ve seen, support groups for men fighting prostate cancer aren’t as common as those for other diseases.
One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his life. One in 36 will die of it. Other than skin cancer, it’s the most common cancer among American men. About 218,000 men in this country will be told sometime this year that they have prostate cancer.
The chance of getting prostate cancer goes up quickly after 50. Also, men with fathers or brothers who have had prostate cancer are more likely to get it themselves. And for reasons still unknown, prostate cancer is more prevalent among African-American men.
Because we haven’t pinpointed the exact cause of prostate cancer, most cases can’t be prevented. But research suggests men may be able to reduce their risk of prostate cancer by eating less red meat and fat and eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Some men have symptoms that may indicate prostate cancer – such as blood in their urine, a need to urinate frequently or a burning sensation while urinating. More often, though, possible signs of prostate cancer show up during a routine check-up.
The blood test is typically combined with a digital rectal exam, when the doctor examines the prostate for any irregular or firm areas. Although these two screenings can’t diagnose prostate cancer, they can signal the need for a biopsy to take tissue samples.
Medicare covers both the PSA test and the digital rectal exam once every 12 months. For more about how Medicare can help you take care of your health, visit www.medicare.gov and download “Your Guide to Medicare’s Preventive Services” or call 1-800-MEDICARE and request a free copy.
Bob Moos is the Southwest public affairs officer, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Some people may be reconsidering plans to grill hot dogs and steak based on a new report supporting the link between red and processed meats, and increased colorectal cancer risk.
But, experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center say that small changes to what — and how — you grill can keep cancer off the menu.
“The good news is that you can do something to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer,” says Sally Scroggs, health education manager at MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center. “And, making just a few cooking adjustments when grilling can play a part in prevention.”
Scroggs recommends these tips for a healthier barbecue.
1. Avoid processed meats.
Skip processed meats like bacon, ham, pastrami, salami, sausage, hot dogs and pepperoni.
Cancer-causing substances form when these meats are preserved, says the American Institute for Cancer Research. And, eating these meats can damage a person’s DNA, increasing the risk of colorectal cancer.
2. Limit red meat.
Eating too much red meat like pork, lamb and beef (including hamburgers) can raise a person’s cancer risk. Try grilling skinless chicken breasts and fish instead.
Insist on red meat? “Limit yourself to three, six-ounce (cooked) servings per week,” Scroggs says. “One serving is the size of two decks of cards.”
3. Don’t char or burn meat, poultry or fish.
Charring, burning or grilling meat, poultry and fish over high temperatures causes heterocyclic amines (HCAs) to form. These HCAs can damage a person’s genes, raising the risk for stomach and colorectal cancers.
To avoid HCAs:
•    Stick with fish. Fish contains less fat and cooks faster than meat and poultry.

•    Lightly oil the grill. This keeps charred materials from sticking to your food.

•    Pre-cook food. Cook meat, poultry or fish in the microwave or oven for two to five minutes, then finish them on the grill. Less grill time means less exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

•    Lower the temperature. For a charcoal grill, spread the coals thinly or prop the grill rack on bricks. This reduces the heat by increasing the distance between your food and the coals. And, use barbecue briquettes and hardwood products, such as hickory and maple. They burn at lower temperatures than softwood (pine) chips.

•    Scrub the grill. Cleaning the grill after each use prevents harmful chemicals from building up and transferring to your food.
4. Use a marinade.
Marinating meat in vinegar, lemon juice and herbs such as mint, rosemary, tarragon or sage can reduce HCA formation by as much as 96%. Just 30 minutes can help.
5. Trim the fat.
Cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) form in the smoke when fat from meat, poultry or fish drips onto the heat source. That PAH-filled smoke then coats your food.
Curb exposure to PAHs by trimming fat from meat before grilling. Or, choose cuts labeled “lean.”

6. Showcase fruits and veggies.
No barbecue should be a meat-only affair. Grilling fruits and veggies is a great way to load up on vitamins and nutrients that help your body fight off diseases like cancer.

“For some grilling enthusiasts, these changes might initially be a lot to stomach,” Scroggs says. “But updating how you barbecue may mean you continue to enjoy grilling for many summers to come.”

Good Shepherd Medical Center (GSMC) is introducing Longview’s first-ever mobile breast health clinic.  The hospital’s Digital Mobile Breast Center is another long step towards furthering breast health awareness and increasing early detection of breast cancer.  This traveling mammogram center will take its services to patients who might otherwise have trouble getting to stationary clinics.  Businesses, civic groups, regional medical facilities, health fairs and Good Shepherd’s outlying clinics will be the venues for screenings that are easily accessible and affordable.
The vehicle will utilize screening mammography services to insure area patients receive regular and convenient check-ups. Also intended to further health education and community outreach the unit features the most state-of-the-art equipment and a highly trained, all-female mammography team.

Women are not accepted for screenings if:
• She has already been diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Has a new breast problem such as a lump, changes in the flesh or discharge.
• Is breast-feeding or has breast-fed during the past nine months.

Women with a family history of breast cancer are particularly urged to avail themselves of this new resource, and/or speak to their doctors about the scheduling and frequency of screenings.

Amy Dorsey, Mammography supervisor and Laura Lyon in front of the Mammomobile